“So you put your foot in your mouth again?” McAllister asked, looking at Aidan over a large glass of mead. He wore a slick dark suit with a white shirt and a thin black tie that reminded Aidan of Frank Sinatra. Apparently, the pixie found fashion inspiration in his recent jaunts to Vegas.
Aidan hung his head. He’d called McAllister as soon as Marion had locked herself in her bedroom and the pixie had manifested as fast as he could. They now sat at a table on the small stone patio behind the cabin. Aidan didn't want Marion to overhear anything he said. He'd already done enough damage.
“I think it’s the curse. I didn’t have a choice. I had to tell her.”
McAllister grunted. “Sounds like the Lady made sure you didn’t enjoy yourself too much.”
“And now Marion’s mad at me.”
“What do you care? The lass was just someone who fulfilled the terms of the curse. She’s nothing to you, right?”
Aidan shifted in his seat, aware of McAllister watching him closely. As much as he would like to treat what had happened as a means to an end, he couldn’t. With the taste of Marion on his lips and the scent of her in his nose, he couldn’t say no. A disturbing tenderness for her had lodged itself in his heart, one he hadn’t anticipated. “Well, I can’t save someone who’s mad at me.”
McAllister gave a wheezing cough as his beer went down the wrong way. “Watch it with the lies, Elf or you’ll be the death of me.” He thumped his chest with a fist and said, “Of course she’s mad. She’s a woman. That’s what they do. Has the Lady not taught you anything? If you’re going to let a fit of temper stop you, your love life is doomed. Go apologize. Explain to her you’re a sod-ass and it’ll be all right.”
“You think so?”
“Well, I’m on my third wife, aren’t I? I’ve cleaned up a mess or two in my time.”
Aidan refrained from pointing out that the history of failed marriages wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.
“Now go make it right.” And with that, McAllister popped into the ether, taking his mead with him.
Aidan sighed and nursed his mead, delaying the inevitable. He’d really messed up. He’d heard her crying and knew she probably hated him now. How McAllister thought explaining he was a sod-ass would help, he didn’t understand, but it wasn’t as if he could think of any other option.
“Well, there’s no time like the present,” he murmured to himself. Downing the last of his mead in one gulp, he made his way into the house and Marion’s door.
Knocking softly, he called, “Marion, are you in there?” When there was no answer, he tapped on the door again and said, louder this time, “Look, we need to talk. I need to explain what happened today.”
A muffled “Go away,” was all he got in response.
“Look, I’m really sorry. I’m an idiot. A moron. Today was wonderful. You were wonderful. Please come out and let me explain.” As a final appeal he said, “I’m going to make dinner. Salad and grilled cheese. I’m not nearly as good a cook as Raven, but I can hold my own.”
The door swung open and a puffy-eyed Marion looked at him, brown eyes flashing. “I’m only coming out for the food.”
She pushed past him and stalked down the hall to the kitchen, leaving Aidan to run after her.
They ate in silence. Aidan’s attempts to talk to her were met with withering stares and instructions to shut-up. He grew desperate as her plate emptied, fearing she would storm off to her room again once the food was gone.
“Can I tell you about it? Please?”
She glared at him, but didn’t say no or bolt, which he took as a yes.
“I made the Lady angry.”
“What did you do?” It was the first she’d spoken to him and he gave her a grateful smile, which she did not return.
“I, well, I said the wrong thing. A lot like today.” He hesitated and then just let it all out. “See, I told her she had an ass like two moons, big and white.”
Marion blanched. “You said that?”
“Aye.”
“How did you know what her ass looked like?”
“Surely you know what guards do for the Queen?” At her confused look, he realized she didn’t. Oh, this wasn’t going to end well at all. He took a deep breath. “The Queen ensures our loyalty with sex. All who guard her, sleep with her and either enjoy it or don’t serve.”
“Oh,” Marion said, staring intently at her plate. “Do you love her?”
“In a way, yes.” He wouldn’t lie about that and besides things couldn’t get much worse.
“But?”
“It’s a love of duty, of fealty. It’s not romantic.”
“Still, you would go back to her bed.”
“I can’t go back at all until I fulfill the terms of the curse.”
“I see. So you made the Queen angry and she cursed you and I am your key back to her bed. You sleep with me, you get to sleep with her.”
“Well...”
“It’s a yes or no question, Aidan,” she said, her bottom lip quivering. Throwing her napkin down, she shoved her chair back. “Never mind. You don’t have to say it, I already know.” She ran back to her room, the slam of her bedroom door reverberating through the house.